GDT: Win one for Cam vs the Dastardly Buffalo Dorky Scissors

[tarheelhockey]

1/22/13 (vs. Lightning) - 18,680
1/24/13 (vs. Sabres) - 18,081
1/28/13 (vs. Bruins) - 17,190
2/1/13 (vs. Senators) - 18,680
2/14/13 (vs. Maple Leafs) - 18,680
2/21/13 (vs. Jets) - 18,282
2/23/13 (vs. Lightning) - 18,680
2/28/13 (vs. Penguins) - 18,680
3/2/13 (vs. Panthers) - 18,680
3/5/13 (vs. Sabres) - 15,277

On the other hand, the first 6 or 7 home games had a bit of an artificial boost from all the post-lockout giveaways and STH vouchers. The next game was against the Penguins, followed by a Saturday night. So last night was the first time we've really had a "no safety net" attendance figure.

Should be interesting to see whether that was just flukishly low, or if there's more lockout damage to ticket sales than the league/team is letting on.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

one set of vouchers had to be used by March 9th also. The NJ came was already pretty packed (I was only able to find 2 singles right behind each other in LL south) so I suspect some will have to use their vouchers for the MTL game also.

 

[sticknpuck]

We've had good attendance throughout - if I had to guess I'd chalk it up to one of the following:

Still, as Sasha Cares pointed out, this has been our lowest attended game thus far - prior to that, the lowest draw was Boston on 1/28/13 which still saw 17,190 in attendance. We've also had 6 sellouts out of 10 home games (1/22 against Tampa, 2/1 against Ottawa, 2/14 against Toronto, 2/23 against Tampa, 2/28 against Pittsburgh, and 3/2 against Florida) and of the 4 non-sellouts, 2 of them (1/24 against Buffalo and 2/21 against Winnipeg) were only a few hundred short of a sellout. The full numbers:

1/22/13 (vs. Lightning) - 18,680
1/24/13 (vs. Sabres) - 18,081
1/28/13 (vs. Bruins) - 17,190
2/1/13 (vs. Senators) - 18,680
2/14/13 (vs. Maple Leafs) - 18,680
2/21/13 (vs. Jets) - 18,282
2/23/13 (vs. Lightning) - 18,680
2/28/13 (vs. Penguins) - 18,680
3/2/13 (vs. Panthers) - 18,680
3/5/13 (vs. Sabres) - 15,277

Another reason could be the injury to Ward and the bringing up of Peters. As with many people on this forum, not many people had faith in his ability to win a game at the NHL level. So the whole goalie shakeup could have something to do with the low attendance.
And no one wants to see the Sabres play, even if they are our "rivals".

 

[Lazyking]

I don't think it's suddenly a lockout problem.. if the team keeps winning, the attendance will be fine. Even that last few seasons haven't been that bad compared to phoenix and the isles..

i just think it was difficult night and not as many Buffalo fans came down.

 

[geehaad]

Is 15K unusually low for a January mid-week game? I was thinking that was pretty decent...

 

[My Special Purpose]

I've always been a big McBain fan, and I will continue to be, but last night he made two bush-league mistakes and could have legitimately cost us the game. If I could put my finger on the one issue I have with him, I think it would be that he likes to possess the puck too much. The play in the third period with him flipping the puck over the glass while shorthanded, he had all day to make a simple play there, and instead he held it and held it (why, only God and Jamie know). He also allowed himself to get forechecked by a much smaller player (Ennis) in the second period, and eventually turned the puck over, despite having plenty of time.

If McBain would make the simple play more often and pick his spots to be creative a little better, I think we'd all feel better with him out there in more situations.

 

[Sasha Cares]

Is 15K unusually low for a January mid-week game? I was thinking that was pretty decent...

I think it's ok considering we averaged 16k last year...

 

[DaveG]

I think the Ward injury and the season the Sabres have had may have played a pretty big roll in attendance last night. Not a lot of people have a ton of confidence in our other goalies, and usually the Sabres bring about 4-5K when they're in town and they have a good team. I wasn't there last night but I wouldn't be surprised if it was about half that.

Also, as some have mentioned, it doesn't help that Sabres games have gotten the reputation as ones that families don't want to go to. I won't be surprised if we're back in the 18+ range for the Montreal game.

 

[caniac247]

I think the Ward injury and the season the Sabres have had may have played a pretty big roll in attendance last night. Not a lot of people have a ton of confidence in our other goalies, and usually the Sabres bring about 4-5K when they're in town and they have a good team. I wasn't there last night but I wouldn't be surprised if it was about half that.

Also, as some have mentioned, it doesn't help that Sabres games have gotten the reputation as ones that families don't want to go to. I won't be surprised if we're back in the 18+ range for the Montreal game.

The Sabre fanbase was not as many as there normally are. I would say probably 1/2 than normal were there. They were also really tame, besides the 3 in my section fighting each other

I would venture to guess that the Sabres fans we had last night were the locals. With the play of the Sabres this year, not sure any of the New Yorkers decided to make the drive and come here as they normally would.

 

[DaveG]

Yeah there's a couple I'm on an APA league team with that are solid people, they were there last night. But from what they posted on facebook beforehand their family members weren't making the trip down from wherever (whether it's WNY or somewhere else on the east coast) when they usually do for these games.

FWIW one of them is also a Canes STH and is usually there supporting the Canes. I knew quite a few STHs that still do that, where they're Canes fans 78-80 games a year (depending on who they're a primary fan for) but the other game or two each year down here they're wearing the other teams colors.

 

[geehaad]

I knew quite a few STHs that still do that, where they're Canes fans 78-80 games a year (depending on who they're a primary fan for) but the other game or two each year down here they're wearing the other teams colors.

Yep, got one that sits in front of me.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Yeah there's a couple I'm on an APA league team with that are solid people, they were there last night. But from what they posted on facebook beforehand their family members weren't making the trip down from wherever (whether it's WNY or somewhere else on the east coast) when they usually do for these games.

FWIW one of them is also a Canes STH and is usually there supporting the Canes. I knew quite a few STHs that still do that, where they're Canes fans 78-80 games a year (depending on who they're a primary fan for) but the other game or two each year down here they're wearing the other teams colors.

Yep, got one that sits in front of me.

I sit in front of you, geehaad? I even wore my Canes jersey last Pens game!

 

[geehaad]

I sit in front of you, geehaad? I even wore my Canes jersey last Pens game!

Depends. Is your name Steve?

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Depends. Is your name Steve?

Nope.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Nope.

How about Steven?

 

[Anton H Christ]

Woohoo Forslund likes my sweet tea line name.

lol thats awesome i hope he starts saying it.